More oppose dist status to Sadar Hills, Jiri
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 30 2016:
Making its stand clear, the Zeliangrong Youth Front has today asserted that it still sticks by its earlier decision and asked the State Government to drop the idea of creating Sadar Hills as a fledged district and slice up parts of Zeliangrong ancestral land to upgrade Jiribam to a revenue district.
In a statement issued to the press, the Zeliangrong Youth Front said that the Government should drop the idea of creating Sadar Hills and Jiribam districts before the land of the Zeliangrong people are restored to its parent Tamenglong district.
The ZYF also reminded the State Government of the directive issued by the Union Home Ministry to the State Government on May 14, 1990 to merge Zeliangrong areas to its parent district, Tamenglong.
In response to the directive of the Union Home Ministry, the State Government had asked the DCs of Senapati, Churachandpur and Tamenglong to survey Zeliangrong villages and to submit the reports within two weeks time.
Even though the reports were submitted accordingly, the State Government has been sleeping over them, alleged ZYF and added that instead of merging the bifurcated Zeliangrong land with its parent district, the State Government has been trying to take more land.
This will be opposed tooth and nail, it warned.
The Committee on Re-organising of Administrative and Police District Boundaries (CRAPDB) headed by the then Chief Secretary DS Poonia in 2011 conducted a public hearing seeking public opinion on creation of Sadar Hills, said ZYF and added that one September 15, 2011, it had raised strong objection to the creation of Sadar Hills district.
A large public rally was also held on November 17, 2011 at Imphal to oppose the proposal of creating Sadar Hills district, it said and added that a memorandum was also submitted to the then Governor of Manipur.
On the other hand the Tribal Rights Demand Committee, Jiribam, All Jiribam Chief Association and Hmar Students' Association, Jiribam have also strongly opposed any proposal to upgrade Jiribam sub-division to a full fledged revenue district.
No tribal civil social organisation or tribe leaders or tribal representatives have been consulted on the matter, said a joint statement issued by the tribal organisations.
The main concern of the tribals is that the hills of Jiribam will be converted to revenue areas which is against the Constitutional rights of the tribals, it added.
Urging the State Government to create an avenue where the desire and aspirations of the tribals can be tabled and discussed, the joint statement said that failure to address the tribal issues in Jiribam may lead to unwanted counter measures, for which the State Government should be solely held responsible.